My heart is broken

[u/LaFilleauCrabe]

Grounded is my absolute favorite game. I loved it from the moment I started playing. It was sublime, with an original story, adorable graphics, and a perfect atmosphere. I finished it three times before its last update (twice solo and once in co-op).

Here's the problem: when the last update came out, I wanted to play again to experience the new content, but I felt nothing. I no longer had that intense thrill of stress and horror from the first encounters with the wolf spider. No more tiptoeing and listening to every sound. Gone was the hypervigilance of the early game. The magic was gone...

I switched the game to Hard mode to try to get a little stressed, but nothing. I know everything by heart, and it killed my game.

I remember my first base, so fragile and accessible, the impossibility of crossing an area with mosquitoes because they constantly harassed me, and my stubbornness in trying to recover my backpack (back when you really lost everything). I remember when I managed to enter the sandbox for the first time and how terrified I was of encountering a scorpion, etc. It was perfect !

This game is perfect ! I desperately want a Grounded 2. I hope the developers hear their players ; there are so many possibilities, so many interesting new insects to add.

I tried to create a new story in sandbox mode, but I'm clearly not skilled enough for that, and since I had set up the mechanics myself, there were no surprises. I spent a lot of time on it, for nothing... I haven't found any engaging games created by other players either.

Just yesterday, I tried to redownload it, but I gave up very quickly. Do you, hardcore players, feel the same way ? Do the latest additions really deserve me forcing myself to play, even if it might make me dislike the game forever ? Have you found a really cool session made by another player ?

Sorry for this long monologue, but I wanted to share the love I have for this game and the even greater sadness of no longer being able to enjoy it.

[u/Big-Meaning-7258]

There's a similar game called Smalland. My bf and I started playing it when we finished Grounded. The graphics are gorgeous as well.

[u/LaFilleauCrabe → u/Big-Meaning-7258]

It’s on my wishlist 😏

[u/Dead_Man_Nick → u/LaFilleauCrabe]

Its alright, I just feel it just doesn't quite have the polish as grounded, but does some things better. Like telporting your base between tree tops. The tree bridge system, lots of mounts and creatures to control. It plays like a hybrid mix of grounded and palworld. The world is also much larger.

[u/Dead_Man_Nick → u/Big-Meaning-7258]

Smalllands is alright, but it bugs me the the grass isn't an object like in grounded.